Button-blank-grinding machine



E. c. CARRIS. BUTTON BLANK GRINDING MACHINE.

'APPLICATION FILED MAB. 9,1921

LMQASQL Patentedlune 13,1922.

'5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

E. C. CARRIS.

BUTTON BLANK GRINDING MACHINE. v APPLICATION FILED MIAR. 9, 1921. 1419,489, Patented 31111613, 11.922.

, 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

I f/ZUZIZZQP 'awara 6' 4/7215 E. c. CARRIS.

BUTTON BLANK GRINDING MACHINE- APPLICAT ION FILED MAR. 9, 1921- 1,419A89u Patented June 113, 11922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E c. C ARRIS.

BUTTON BLANK GRINDING MACHINE.

- APPLICATION FILED'MAR. 9, I921.

w WW M: n T m a P E. c. CARRIS.

BUTTON BLANK GRINDING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONHLED MAR. 9; I921- Patented June 113, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

EDWARD C. GABRIEL OF WASHINGTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOB TO CARRIS MANUFACTURINGCOMPANY, OE WASI-ZING-TGN, IOWA.

BUTTON-BLANK-GRINDING- IKACHINE.

Specification of Letters T'atent. Pa tern-tad J ng 13 jggg Applicationfiled March 9, 1921. Serial No. 450,868.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD O. Cannrs, a citizen of the UnitedStates,.and. a resident of l Vashington, in the county of Washington andState of Iowa, have invented a certain new and useful Button-Blank-Grinding Machine, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has to do with a machine for grinding button blanks ofirregular outline for forming them into discs circular in form and ofproper diameter.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of the typementioned, whereby such angular button blanks made of shell or similarfragile or brittle material may be subjected to a grinding element bymoving the blank in a direction parallel. with the axis of rotation ofthe grinding member for subjecting the portion of the blank outside theoutline of the disc to be finished to a grinding action in the directionof the thickness of the blank.

Still a further object is to provide in such a machine, means forautomatically feeding the blanks and successively subjectingthem to thegrinding operation.

S" ill a further object is to provide a machine, having simple means foradjustment, for thereby determining the diameter of the completed buttonblank.

Still a further object is to provide insuch a machine, means forsuccessively gripping the button blanks and subjecting them to agrinding operation and for releasing and discharging the button blanksat the proper time, after the grinding operation has been completed.

lVith these and other objects, which will appear further from thedescription of my machine and its operation and advantages, my inventionconsists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of thevarious parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims,and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a plan view of my machine, the suction dust removing pipebeing shown in section, taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a detailed, sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figural,and illustrating -the position in which my machine stands with its axisof rotation arranged substantially at fortydivedegrees with relation tohorizontal.

Figure 3 shows a front elevation of the machine viewed from thedirection, as indicated by the arrow A in Figure 1.

Figure 4- shows a detail, sectional taken on the line l- 1- of Figure 3.

Figure 5 shows a detail, sectional taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Figure 6 shows a detail, sectional taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 shows a detail, sectional taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 2.

Figure 8 shows a detail, sectional taken on the line 8-8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line SP-9 of Figure3, part of the button feeding mechanism being omitted.

Figure 10 shows a detail, sectional view taken on the line 10-1O ofFigure 9; and

F i 'ure 11 shows a detail view of a modified form of the blank feedingmechanism.

By way of general explanation of the con struction of my machine and inorder to make the following detailed explanation clearer, it may bementioned that my machine consists generally of a drum mounted forrotation and having operative parts thereon, the drum being arrangedwith its axis of rotation at an angle of about forty jive degrees tohorizontal. The arrangement such inclination is of special importancefor feeding the button blanks to the members which grip and hold theblanks for the grinding operation.

lvly improved machine comprises a horizontal base 10. The machine, ofcourse, can be mounted on any suitable support. Mount ed on thehorizontal base 10 by means of legs or the like 11 is a base 12 inclinedat an angle of substantially forty-five degrees from the horizontal.

On the base 12 is a supporting bracket or the like 13 inclined upwardlyand arranged perpendicularly with relation to the base 12, as shown inFigure 2. The bracket 13 has at its upper end a journal or bearing 14 inwhich is fixed a shaft 15, which is arranged at an angle of aboutforty-five degrees with relation to horizontal.

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The shaft 15 is fixed in the bearing 14 by means of a set screw 16 or inany suitable way.

A hollow drum 17 has a sleeve 18 mounted on the upper end of the shaft15, as shown in Figure 2. The sleeve 18. has in its outer surface nearits lower end a rabbet 19. Splined on the sleeve 18 between the bearing14 and the shoulder of the rabbet 19 is a worm Wheel 20.

On the upper end of the shaft 15 is a washer 21 held in position by anut 22, which is screwed onto the screw-threaded upper end 23 of theshaft 15.

It will be seen that the nut 22 and washer 21 prevent the drum 17 fromsliding upwardly on the shaft 15. The sleeve 18 and drum 17 rotate onthe shaft 15. The outer surface of the drum 17 is provided with acentral, annular groove or the like 2%.

7 It is noted that the drum 17 projects upwardly a substantial distancebeyond the shaft 15 in the line of the extended axis of the said shaft.

In the base 12 near the upper part thereof is an elongated slot 25.Supported on the upper part of the base 12 is a bracket 26 having anupper housing 27 and a lower sleeve-like. housing 28 spaced from eachother and aligned with each other.

Mounted in the housings 27 and 28 is a shaft 29. At the upper and lowerends of the shaft 29 adjacent to the respective housings 27 and 28 areball bearing devices 30 and 31 of any suitable approved construction.

On the shaft 29 between the housings 27 and 28 is fixed a pulley 32 orother suitable gearing device for transmitting power to the shaft 29. Onthe lower end of the shaft 29 between suitable large washers 33 and 34:is mounted a grinding Wheel 35.

The lower end of the shaft 29 is screwthreaded as at 10 to receive a nut41. The shaft 29 has suitable shoulders adjacent to the respective ballbearing devices 30 and 81.

Between the upper washer and the ball bearing device 31 is a spacersleeve or washer 36. Fixed on the upper end of the shaft 29 by means ofa screw bolt 4-2 or the like 'is a pulley 43.

Supported on the drum 17 is a plurality of What I shall call spindlesupports for supporting pairs of aligned spindles, whereby button blanksare engaged and successively moved to position to be ground byengagement with the grinding wheel These spindlesupports will be morefully described hereafter.

Motion is transmitted to the pulley 32 by means of a belt 1 1 or thelike. Motion is transmitted from the pulley 43 to the worm wheel 20 andthe drum 17 by the following means:

Supported on brackets 45 and 16 alongside the machine is a shaft 47, Onone end of the shaft 17 is a pulley 18 aligned with the pulley 4.3. Abelt 41-9 travels on the pulleys 43 and 418 fortransmitting rotationfrom the pulley 13 to the pulley 18.

Below the worm wheel 20 is a transverse shaft 50. On one end of theshaft 17, as shown in Figure 1, is a bevelled gear 51, which meshes witha bevelled gear 52 on the shaft 50. On the shaft 50 is a worm 53, asshown for instance in Figure 2, meshing with the worm wheel 20. V

Extending laterally and upwardly from the base 12 are bracket arms 5 1and 55, shown in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6, at the outer ends of which arejournals or bearings 56 and 57 for a shaft 58 arranged preferablyparallel with the shaft 15.

On the lower end of the shaft 58 is a worm wheel 59 which meshes with aworm 60 on the shaft 50.

Mounted in the bearing 57 and fixed thereto by means of a set screw 61is a short sleeve or hub 62, which has radially inclined arms 63, whichsupport an annular flat ring 6 1-.

The shaft 58 is arranged to rotate freely in the hub 62.

Fixed on the upper end of the shaft 58 by means of a set screw 65 is adisc 66 arranged within the annular ring 6 1-, as shown in Figure 5.

Mounted on the disc 66 is a fiat annular plate 67, the edges of whichoverlap a portion of the ring 6 1, as shown in Figure 5.

It will be seen that when the shaft 58 is rotated the disc 66 and plate67 will be rotated.

In Figure 6, I have shown the ring 64- and the disc 66 with the plate 67removed. Secured to the lower edge of the ring'6a and extending aroundthe edge thereof farthest removed from the drum 17 is a shell or thelike 68, forming a hopper member, the lower portion of which at thelower forward edge of the ring 641- is practically vertical, asillustrated for instance in Figure 5. i

The general shape and location of the shell or blank retaining member 68is illus trated in Figures 1, 3, 5, and 6.

In the periphery of the plate 67, there is provided a series of recessesor notches 69. The plate 67 rotates in the direction indicated by thearrow in Figure 3. The

forward edges or walls of the recesses 69 are 7 bevelled, as illustratedat 70 in Figure 4.

For a portion of its length in its periphery at the part thereof nearestthe drum 17, the ring 64 is provided with an elongated notch 71, shownfor instance in Figure 6. The edge of the ring 64 adjacent to one end ofthe notch 70 as at 72 is bevelled as shown for instance in Figures 1 and6. Inclined downwardly and toward the drum 17 from the bevelled edge 72is a slide or trough device 73, the lower forward edge of which iscurved upwardly, as at 74, said trough being lllllSJltllJCd in Figures1, 3 and 6.

Before completing the description of the other part of the machine, itmay be stated that the parts just described comprises a feeding device,which operates as follows:

Squared button blanks, angular in outline, are supplied to thereceptacle formed by the member 68 and the plate 67, the receptaclebeing indicated in Figures 1 and 3 by the reference character 75.

As the plate 67 rotates the blanks will be selected and will be droppedinto the notches or recesses 69, and will he slid along the ring 64: bythe movement of the plate 67.

it may be mentioned that the lower partof the wall 68, as illusrated inFigure 5, is preferably inclined slightly toward the plate 6'7 from thevertical, instead of being exactly vertical. On this account, it is seenthat the button blanks which rest against the member 68 on the insidethereof will tend to drop over toward the plate 67, so that they easilyand readily drop into the recess 69 as the plate 67 rotates.

If another blank happens to rest upon one of the blanks, which isreceived in one of the recesses 69, the upper blank will slide off thebevelled edge 70, as the lower blank is moved upwardly with the movementof the plate 67.

The blanks in the notches 69 are carried upwardly around the upperportion of the ring 64, until they reach the bevelled edge 72, whereuponthey drop through the recess 69 and slide down the trough 73 to therereiving plate which will hereinafter be described.

There is provided a plurality of spindle supports, which are preferablymade of castings of peculiar shape, and are mounted on the drum 1'7. Oneofthese spindle supports, '76 comprises a lower substantially straightportion 76, a central portion 76", which when the spindle support ismounted on the drum extends inwardly slightly, and has in its outerportion a recess 76 shown for instance in Figure 2. Extending upward]from the upper part of the portion 76" is another substantially straightportion 76 in which is formed a longitudinally extended passage 7 7extending from the upper part of the portion 76 The passage 77, asillustrated in Figures 2 and G particularly, is open at its lower end inthe inner side, and at the advancing side of the spindle support 76, andthe openings are covered with a screen or the like 78. Extendinginwardly from the upper end of each opening 77 is a take-off tube 79.

For clearness sake, it may be explained that the passage 77 and takeofftube 7 9 are for taking away shell dust and their relations to the otherparts will be hereinafter more fully referred to.

Extending laterally from the portion '76 of each spindle support on theadvancing side thereof, it being understood the drum rotates in thedirection indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, are lugs 80 in which areformed bearings for spindles 82. (See Figure l). The spindles 82 areslidably and rotatably mounted in their bearings.

Extending in the same direction from the upper portions 76 of thespindle supports 76 are lugs 88, shown in Figures 1 and 6, in which areformed angular bearings for spindles 84-, which are angular in outline.

Secured to the lugs 88 by screws or the like are plates 85 which preventthe removal of the square spindles 84 from the lugs 83.

Extending inwardly from the lower end of each spindle 8% is an arm 86,having at its lower portion, a short conical-head 87 aligned with one ofthe spindles 82.

The but-ton blank is engaged between the upper ends of the spindles 82,which are preferably corrugated as at 88 and the adjacent conical-head87 and are held for the grinding operation.

In the lower end of each spindle 82 is mounted a rotatable ball 89,shown for instance in Figure 1, for providing an antifriction rollerconnection between the lower end of the spindle and the cam, which willnow be described.

There is ,brovided a cam for raising the spindles 82 at the proper time.This cam comprises a curved ring or the like 90, shown in Figures 1 and2. This cam extends from position above the drum at the lower endtherefor around the end in the direction of its rotation to a pointbelow the drum about thirty degrees past the vertical center thereof.

Extending inwardly from the curved supporting member 90 is the cam track91. shown by dotted lines in l igure 1 and in full lines in l igure 2,the shape of which will be again referred to.

A brace 92 is secured to the sleeve 14:, as shown in Figure 2, andsupports the upper portion of the member 90 and extends upwardly andforwardly beyond said member. as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The other endof the cam is supported. by means of a bracket arm 93 shown in Figure 2.

T will now describe the means for adjustably mounting the spindlesupports 76 on the drum 17. Referring particularly to Figure 2, it willbe seen that each of the spindle supports 76 has a pair of spacedtransverse screw-threaded openings 94:, in which are mounted externallyscrewthread ed sleeves 95, having angular heads 96.

The sleeves 95 are tubular and receive bolts 97, whichv are screwed intothe drums 17. Between the heads 96 and the spindle sup- Cir ports 'ZGare look nuts orthe like 98. 'The sleeves 953 are adjusted to positionfor sup porting the spindle in proper position for grinding a particularsize 01 blank and. the screw bolts 97 are then screwed tight.

It will be seen that by loosening these bolts 97, the sleeves may beadjusted inwardly and outwardly for adjusting the spindle su ngorts andthe spindles inwardly and outwardly with relation to the axis ot thedrum.

Upon each spindle support '76 are pairs of spaced arms 99, shown inFigures 1 and 2. The arms of each pair are designed to extend topositions on opposite sides of a spindle 82. Between the respectivepairs of arms, there is mounted on each spindle, a sprocket wheel 100,provided with a lug or 'key to slide in a keyway 101, so that thesgrocket wheel is slidably but non-rotatably mounted on the spindle.

For imparting rotation to the spindles 82, as they travel something morethan hall the rotation of: the drum 17, l have provided a sprocket chain102, which is secured to the brace 92 and by means of a spring orsprings 103 to fixed portions of the trains. The chain is so arrangedthat during the grinding operation, it engages the sprocket wheels forimparting slow rotation to the spindles 82, whereas during that periodof operation from the time when the blanks are discharged from thespindles until a new blank is picked up, the chain 102 is clear of thesprocket wheels and the spindles 82 do not rotate.

bupported on the bracket arm 55 is a frame 10% on which is mounted aplate inclined at an angle of substantially fortyfive degrees from thehorizontal and ar ranged near the series of spindle supports 76, asshown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and G.

The plate 105 is arranged at the lower end of the trough '73, so thatthe blanks sliding down through the trough member will be dischargedupon the plate 105.

Secured to the respective spindle supports 76 just above the recesses 76are lingers 100, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, (3, and 8 ada nied to engagethe blanks as they slide downwardly on the plate 105 (see F igure (3)and carry them upwardly around the drum toward the point where theblanks are picked up by the spindles.

The upper end of the plate 105 has an elongated slot 107, open at oneend, as shown in Figure 6.

The cam track 91, above referred to, is so arranged that its first riseoccurs at such a point as to raise the spindles 82 when the button blank108 is carried by the finger 106 to position where the button blank isabove the slot 107.

At the inner end of the plate 105 is an upwardly extending flange 109,which serves as uide tor the button blanks, and is shown istance inFigure 0. I lszlounted in the shanks oi' the respective spindles 84 arelaterally extending spindles 110, extending radially out rardly withrelation to the drum, and having on their outer ends rollers 111.

Supported by the member 92 and by the bracket 112 (Figure 3) is a cam113, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 8 and 9. The cam 113 extends from belowthe drum and about twenty degrees past the vertical, around the drum inthe direction of its rotation to a point above the drum, as shown forinstance in Figure The parts are so arranged that a blank dropped t'rornthe notches or slots 69 through thetrough 73 upon the plate 105 isengaged by a linger 106 and carried upwardly.

11s the linger 106 moves toward the upper part of the machine, the blankslides downwardly against the flange 109. The blank is thus engaged onone edge by the flange 109 and on another edge by the linger 100, asshown for instance in l igure 6, and slides on the plate 105, whichsupports the blank on the side surface of the blank.

The cams are so arranged that the point 87 of the upper spindle ispermitted to move downwardly and the corresponding lower spindle 82 ismoved upwardly when the button blank 108 is sliding over the slot 10?.

The blank 108 is thereupon engaged between. the head spindle 82 and thepoint 87.

The sprocket chain 102 is so arranged that shortly thereafter, slowrotation is imparted to the lower spindles 82, through the chain 102 andthe sprocket wheels 1100.

A further rise of the lower cam track 91 brings the upper face of thebutton blank 108 into contact with the lower face of the grindingelenient The parts are so adjusted that the grindin g elen out 35projects over the button blank a sullieieut distance to cause the blankto be ground to the proper diameter.

The contiiuied rise ot the lower cam 91 finally brings the blank 10Sheld between the point 8? and spindle S2 u nvardly to a position withrelation to the grinding elenient 85 so that through the operation ofsaid grinding element and the rotation of said blank, all the materialof said blank outside the circle of its finished diameter will have beenground oil.

The position of the machine parts at the finish ot' the grindingoperation is illustrated in Figure 8.

I will now explain the means for removingthe shell dust during thegrinding operation.

The dust formed by the engagement of the button blanks 108 with thegrinding element is drawn into the opening or passage 77 through thescreens 78. Rotatably mounted on the sleeve or bearing 28 is a hub 120formed on which is a disc 121, shown clearly in Figure 2.

At the outer edge of the disc 121 is an annular flange 122 into whichthe inner ends of the dust carrying tubes 79 project slidably. Fixed onthe sleeve 28 by means of a set screw 123 is a hub 124, shown in Figure2. On the hub 124 is a disc 125, the outer edge of which fits againstthe flange 122.

The disc 125 has an inwardly and downwardly projecting flange 126overlapping the hub 120. It will be seen that a compartment C is formedby the flange 126, the discs 121 and 125, and the flange 122.

A. dust take-off pipe 127 has its intake end mounted in the disc 125 andcommunicating with the compartment C. The take off pipe 127 is connectedwith any suitable suction means, so that the shell dust may be drawnthrough the opening 78, the pipe 79,

. the compartment, indicated at C, and above described, and the dusttakeoff pipe 127.

It is noted that the pipe 127 and the disc 125 are fixed againstrotation while the disc 121 rotates with the drum 17 and the spindlesupports 76.

The tube 79 may be slid inwardly or outwardly with relation to thecompartment 0 when the spindle supports are adjusted inwardly andoutwardly.

The disc 125 has partition members 135, shown in Figure 7 so located asto shut ofl the compartment C from that portion of the space between thediscs 121 and 125 with which the pipes 79 communicate during that partof the rotation of the machine in which no grinding takes place.

I will now describe in greater detail the practical operation of myimproved button blank grinding machine and in connection with thedescription of the operation will snore fully refer to the constructionof the parts and will describe certain features of construction notheretofore mentioned.

A supply of angular blanks 108 is poured into the space between the disc67 and the member 68, such space being indicated generally by thereference character 75.

The button blanks may be supplied through a chute, and the supply may beautomatically controlled, if desired.

The machine is then started by means of the belt 44, which travels onthe pulley 32. (See Figures 2 and The rotation of the pulley 32 impartsrotation to the shaft 29, and the grinding element 35 in the directionindicated by the arrow in Figure 6.

Rotation is imparted from the shaft 29 through the pulley 43 and belt 49and pulley 48 to the shaft 47. (See Figures 1, 2 and Rotation of theshaft 47 imparts rotation to the shaft 50 through the media of thebevelled gears 51 and 52.

The worm 53 on the shaft 50 imparts rotation to the worm wheel 20 andtherethrough to the sleeve or hub 18 and the drum 17, the rotation ofthe drum being relatively slow and being in the opposite direction tothat of the grinding element 35.

The worm on the shaft 50 imparts rotation'to the shaft 58. (See Figures1 and 5). Rotation of the shaft 58 causes rotation of the disc 66 andthe plate 67 thereon. (See Figure 5).

As the plate 67 rotates in the direction indicated by the arrow inFigure 3, the notches 69 will receive button blanks 108, carrying themupwardly round the upper portion of the blank selecting device andsliding them along the ring 64, (see Figures 3 and 5), until the chute'73 is reached.

It will be remembered that the ring 64 has an opening above the upperend of the chute 73 through which the blanks may drop downwardly to thechute 73. The blanks are discharged by the chute 73 upon the plate 105.(Figure 6).

In this connection, attention is called to the inclination of the plate105, which is such as to tend to cause the blanks to drop toward theright of the plate 105, as shown in Figure 6.

The momentum acquired by the blanks as they slide dowmvardly through thechute '73, also tends to cause the blanks to travel toward the flange109. Each blank is then engaged by one of the fingers 106 and carriedupwardly around the upper part of the main machine.

It will. be noted that the flange 109 forms a guide for the blank andthat the blank is also engaged by a finger 106. Thus the blank isengaged and held on two edges, as it moves upwardly towards itsposition, where it is engaged and gripped by the spindles.

When the blank reaches the position above the slot 107 in the plate 105(see Figure 6), one of the spindles 82 reaches a position where there isa rise in the cam 91 (see Figure 2), and one of the spindles 84 reachesposition where it slides downwardly on the cam 113 and as the alignedspindle members 82 and 87, shown especially in Figure approach eachother, they pick up the blank 108 and grip it between them.

After the drum travels a little farther, the chain 102 engages thesprockets 100 for imparting rotation to the spindles 82.

As the spindles with the blank between them continue in their travel,there is a further steady and continued rise of the cam 91, which bringsthe upper face of the button blank against the lower face of thegrinding element 35. This rise of the cam 91 continues gradually untilthe button blank is ground through from top to bottom and theperipheries of the grinding element and the button blank are thenadacent to each other as shown in F igure 8.

The dust caused by the grinding is drawn off in the manner hereinbeforedescribed, through the compartment C and the takeoff pipe 127.

An annular ring or plate 128, shown in Figures 1, 2, 6 and 8, is made insections and is projected into the recesses 76 The spindles 82 areprojected through the sections of the plate 128 for holding them inposition. The plate 128 prevents the broken blanks, splinters and piecestoo small to engage from dropping down into the operative parts of themachinery.

After the blank being operated upon has traveled more than half wayround the path taken by the spindles, the roller 111 of the upperspindle reaches the cam 113, as shown for instance in Figure 3,whereupon the upper spindle is raised away from the blank 10.8, as shownfor instance in Figure 8, and the button blank will be thrown off by theengagement with the grinding element into a discharge chute 129, shownin Figures 3 and 8. The discharge chute is mounted on a fixed portion ofthe frame of the machine and has in its walls slots 130 to permit thepassage of the fingers 106. Immediately thereafter the cam 91 drops.

In order to insure the lowering of the spindle 82 at this step in theoperation of the machine, there may be mounted upon each spindle 82 a.disc or the like 131 (see Figures 1, 2 and 9).

Mounted on the frame is a cam 132 so arranged as to engage the uppersurface of the discs 131 for forcing the spindles 82 downwardly to theirlower limit of movement.

It may be mentioned in this connection that coil springs 132- aremounted on the spindles 81- between the upper bearings 'thereof and thespindles 110 to provide pressure at the point 87 upon the blank 108, soas 'to grip and hold the blank against the end of the spindle 82 andalso for making certain the downward movement of the spindles 8 1 whenthe rollers 111 leave the cam 113.

The shaft 29 and the parts mounted thereon may be adjusted for slightlyvarying the position of the grinding element 35 by adjusting the bolt1341 in the slot 25. The bolt 13-1 holds the bracket 26 in position. Bysuch adjustment, it is possible to determine how much of the peripl'ieryof the grinding element 35 shall be used for grinding the blanks. I

The machine may be adjusted for making button blanks of different sizesby adjusting the sleeves 95 and thereby adjusting the spindles radiallyof the machine.

Attention is called to the advantages of the structure herein described,particularly in the construction of the automatic feeding mechanism, andto such mechanism in combination with the automatic means for engagingthe blanks and grinding them by bringing their flat faces intoengagement with the flat face of the grinding element, whereby theengagement with the grinding element is steady and continuous instead ofbeing accomplished by a series of blows struck on the corners of theblanks.

The arrangement of the feeding mechanism and of the main portion of themachine, inclined at an angle of substantially forty-live degrees, isbelieved to be of great importance in making possible the automaticfeeding of the blanks and the bringing of the blanks to proper positionfor engagement by the spindles.

On account of the inclination of the plate 105, the button blanks willslide downwardly, to posit-ion for proper engagement by the fingers 106,and will slide inwardly against tl e flange 109 so that they are engagedon two edges and one face as they travel toward the engaging spindles.

In Figure 11, I have shown a slightly modified form of the feedingmechanism in which the ring 61 has secured thereto at its upper portiona curved guard or guide 1 10, arranged just outside the disc 67 andprojecting above the ring 64.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 11, the chute 73 is done awaywith and the guide 1410 extends around the upper portion of the disc 67and downwardly on the side thereof adjacent to the main body of themachine to position near the fingers 106.

The blanks 108 are carried in the notches 69 until they pass unwardlyaround the upper part of the ring 6 1 and thence downwardly to the sidethereof near the main body of the machine, until they clear the lawerend of the guide 1 10, whereupon the are dropped by gravity from thenotches 69 and slide downwardly on the plate 105 until they are engagedby the fingers 106.

Other advantages of my improved construction will appear from theforegoing description.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinding elementarranged with its axis of rotation inclined from the vertical and havinga flat fa e, a pair of aligned blank holding devices inclined from thevertical and arranged parallel with the axis of rotation of saidgrinding element, an inclined plate on which button blanks may slidefreely into position to be engaged by said blank holding devices in aplane to which said axis of rotation is perpendicular.

2. In a button blank grinding machine, inclined spindles adapted toengage between them a button blank, an inclined plate on whichv suchblanks may slidefreely to position to be engaged by said. spindles, andmeans for moving a button blank on said inclined plate to position forsuch engagement.

3. In a button blank grinding machine, a. rotating grinding member,inclined spindles, means for moving said spindles to position forengaging a button blank and moving it to contact with said grindingmember, an inclined plate on which blanks may slide to position to beengaged by said spindles, means for engaging blanks on said plate andmoving them to position for engagement by said spindles, and means forsuccessively feeding blanks to said plate.

*l. In a button blank grinding machine, a blank grinding mechanismincluding inclined blank engaging and holding spindles, an inclinedplate adjacent thereto on which blanks may slide to position to beengaged by said spindles, said mechanism including means adapted toengage blanks on said plate for advancing them to said position, a hopper device, means therein for selecting blanks and discharging them uponsaid plate.

5. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotating grinding member,inclined spindles having blank engaging ends, means 'lor moving saidspindles to position for engaging a button blank and moving it tocontact with said grinding member, an inclined which blanks may be slidto position with the planes of said ends for engagement by saidspindles, means for engaging blanks on said plate and moving them toposition for engagement by said spindles, means for successively feedingblanks to said plate.

6. In a button blank grinding machine, a blank grinding mechanism, aninclined plate, a hopper device, a rotating member in said hopperdevice, having slots, said rotating member being arranged in a plane atan angle with relation to the horizontal, an inclined plate arranged toreceive blanks discharged from said rotating member, pairs oi inclinedspindles mounted on a rotating member and means for moving blanks onsaid plate to position between the respective pairs of spindles.

7. in a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinding elementarranged at an angle with relation to the horizontal, a rotary elementarranged at the same angle, pairs of inclined blank engaging spindlesmounted on said rotary element, means for causing movement of saidspindles for causing them to engage a button blank and bringing its fiatfaceinto engagement with the fiat face of the grinding element forreducing the blank from angular outline to circular outline, an inclinedplate supported adjacent to said rotary element and to the path of saidspindles having a guide wall, means for feeding blanks successively tosaid inclined plate so that the blanks may slide to position adjacent tosaid wall, and means for engaging blanks on said plate and moving themto position for engagement by said spindles.

8. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinder arranged withits axis inclined "from the horizontal, a rotary element with its axissimilarly inclined, blank engaging devices on said element adapted tormovement to grip blanks and bring them into engagement with the grinder,an inclined plate adjacent to said devices on which blanks may slide toposition to be seized by said engaging devices, a blank feeder forsuccessively selecting blanks and delivering them to said plate, theinclination of said inclined parts from vertical being the same.

9, In a button blank grindin machine, a rotary grinder arranged with itsaxis inclined from the horizontal, a rotary element with its axissimilarly inclined, blank engaging devices on said element mounted formovement for engaging blanks and bringing them into engagement with saidgrinder, an inclined plate adjacent to said devices on which blanksmayslide to position for engagemcnt thereby, a blank :teeder adapted tosuccessively seect blanks and deliver them to said plate, and means onsaid element for engaging; blanks on said plate and moving them toposition for engagement by said devices.

10. in a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinding elementarranged at an angle with relation to the horizontal, means forimparting rotation to said grinding element, a rotary member, spindlesupports on said rotary member, means for mounting spindles on saidspindle supports for sliding movement for bringing button blanks held bysaid spindles into contact with the grinding element, an inclined plateadjacent to the path of movement of said spindles, having a flange atits inner edge, means supported on said rotary member for engagingbutton blanks on said inclined plate for moving them to position forengagement by the spindles the inclination of the inclined pants fromvertical being the same.

1.1. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinding elementarranged at an an gle with relation to the horizontal, means forimparting rotation to said grinding element. rotary member, spindlesupports on said rotary member, means for mounting spindles on saidspindle supports for sliding movement for bringing button blanks held bysaid spindles into contact with the grinding element, an inclined plateadjacent to the path of movement of said spindles, having a flange atits inner edge, means supported on said rotary member for engagingbutton blan on said inclined plate for moving them to position forengagement by the spindles, and means for successively feeding buttonblanks to said inclined plate, the inclination of the inclined partsfrom vertical being the same.

12. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinding elementinclined at an a; gle from the horizontal, a rotary member inclined at asimilar angle, spindle supports on said rotary member, lower spindlesrotatably and slidably mounted on said supports, upper spindles havingengaging portions aligned with the respective lower spindles, said upperspindles being slidably mounted on said spindle supports, a feed platefixed adjacent to the path or said spindles, means for engaging blankson said plate and moving them to position for engagement by thespindles, means for causing said spindles to move to position forengaging said blanks and to position for causing the blanks to engagesaid grinding element and to position for releasing said blanks, theinclined parts being inclined at the same angle from the vertical.

13. In a grinding machine, a series of aligned pairs of blank holdingspindles mounted for movement around a common center, means forimparting relative movement toward and from each other to the spindlesof the respective pairs, a blank supporting member comprising aconverging plate and wall, said plate being arranged so that it isbetween the members of the pairs of spindles when they are separatedduring part of their movement, said plate having a slot in one end, saidmeans being arranged to bring the spindles of the pairs together forgripping blanks above said slot.

1. 1.1111 a grinding machine, a series of aligned pairs of blank holdingspindles mounted for movement around a common center, means forimparting relative movement toward and from each other to the spindlesoi the respective pairs, a blank supporting member comprising aconverging plate and wall, said plate being arranged so that it isbetween the members 01 the pairs of spindles when they are separatedduring part of their movement, said plate having a slot in one end, saidmeans being arranged to bring the spindles of the pairs together forgripping blanks above said slot, and means for successively movingblanks to position above the slot.

15. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinder, a rotarydevice, blank engaging members carried by said rotary device, means formoving said members for bringing the blanks held thereby to position forcausing the Hat face of the grinder to engage the fiat face of the blankwith the periphery of the grinder projecting over the blank the desireddistance for producing a blank of proper diameter, means for rotatingsaid grinder, and means for rotating the blank during the grindingoperation more slowly than the grinder and with the adjacent iaces ofthe grinder and blank moving in general opposite directions.

16. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary grinder, a rotarydevice, blank engaging members carried by said rotary device, means formoving said members for bringing the blanks held thereby to position forcausing the flat face of the grinder to engage the flat face of theblank with the periphery of the grinder projecting over the blank thedesired distance for producing a blank of proper diameter, means forrotating said grinder, and means for rotating the blank during thegrinding operation more slowly than the grinder and with the adjacentfaces of the grinder and blank moving in general opposite directions,and means for operating said rotary member for carrying the blank aroundthe grinder, whereby the grinding operation is accomplished with minimumshock.

17. In a button blank grinding machine, a rotary device, an inclinedplate adjacent thereto, a hopper device, an inclined rotating member insaid hopper device, having slots, said rotating member being arranged ina plane at an angle with relation to the horizontal, an adjustableflange on said hopper device to retain blanks in said slots after theyhave passed the zenith of rotation and until they have reached thedischarge point below the horizontal, arranged to discharge blanksdirectly upon said inclinedplate in a plane parallel to and slightlybelow the plane of said hopper rotating member, a flange at the inneredge of said inclined plate to hold and gauge the blank on the bottomedge, an adjustable feed finger on said rotary element arranged at thesame angle as said inclined plate to hold the blank and gauge it on oneside and to move it to the point for engagement by the spindles, theposition of the blank being gauged by said inclined plate, the saidflange on its inner edge and the said feeding finger.

Des Moines, Iowa, January 24, 1921.

' EDNABD C. CARRIS.

